January 1, 2016
Sasikala Natarajan, a close confidante of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, today took over as the new general secretary of the ruling AIADMK.
Sasikala Natarajan breaks down during her first address as AIADMK general secretary.
January 1, 2016
Sasikala Natarajan, a close confidante of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, today took over as the new general secretary of the ruling AIADMK.
Sasikala Natarajan breaks down during her first address as AIADMK general secretary.
CHENNAI – Sasikala Natarajan takes charge as the general secretary of the All Indian Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at the party office in Chennai.
When Jayalalithaa was organizing a party conference in Cuddalore in 1982 – a new entrant to AIADMK then, it was Sasikala who had got the event video-graphed.
Ms. Sasikala said she prayed the almighty to bestow the people all wealth and prosperity in this new year. Incidentally, MGR was the man behind Sasikala and Jayalalithaa's proximity. She broke down while speaking about her predecessor, mentor and close friend Jayalalithaa in her address to party workers.
Recalling her 33-year association with Jayalalithaa, Sasikala said she never expected to find herself in the position of leadership.
Sasikala also invoked to MGR during her speech. "She (Jayalalithaa) was treated by several medical experts, including doctors from AIIMS", Sasikala said.
"In the upcoming year, AIADMK will serve the people with sincerity and take forward the vision of lateChief Minister J Jayalalithaa"'.
"She promised to run a party and a government that is free of casteist and religious interference, along the lines of Jayalalithaa", Mr. Thirumavalan told The Hindu, following his meeting with Ms. Sasikala on Saturday.
She also said that it is sad for her that she's taking over in Amma's absence.
After signing papers and holding a brief meeting with AIADMK president-cum-chairman E. Madusudanan, party treasurer and chief minister O. Panneerselvam, and veteran party leader and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M. Thambidurai, Ms Sasikala made her first formal address to functionaries.
Jayalalithaa who passed away on December 5 evening after suffering cardiac arrest was the party's general secretary from 1989 to 2016.
Courtesy: TOI
